[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 89 (Tuesday, June 7, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Page S3588]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 4529. Mrs. MURRAY (for herself and Mr. Kaine) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed by her to the bill S. 2943, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2017 for military activities 
of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for 
defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military 
personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which 
was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       Strike section 562 and insert the following:

     SEC. 562. MODIFICATION OF PROGRAM TO ASSIST MEMBERS OF THE 
                   ARMED FORCES IN OBTAINING PROFESSIONAL 
                   CREDENTIALS.

       (a) Scope of Program.--Subsection (a)(1) of section 2015 of 
     title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking 
     ``incident to the performance of their military duties''.
       (b) Quality Assurance of Certification Programs and 
     Standards.--Subsection (c) of such section is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``under subsection (a) is 
     accredited by'' and all that follows and inserting ``under 
     subsection (a)--
       ``(A) is accredited by an accreditation body that meets the 
     requirements in paragraph (2); or
       ``(B) meets requirements in paragraph (3) or (4).''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
       ``(3) A credentialing program meets the requirements in 
     this paragraph if--
       ``(A) the program results in a recognized postsecondary 
     credential, including--
       ``(i) an industry recognized certificate or certification, 
     including a credential recognized by employers within an 
     industry or sector to meet employment requirements, or where 
     appropriate, a credential endorsed by a nationally-recognized 
     trade association or organization representing a significant 
     part of the industry or sector;
       ``(ii) a certificate of completion of a registered 
     apprenticeship; or
       ``(iii) a license recognized by a State or the Federal 
     Government; or
       ``(B) the credential granted by the program meets standards 
     established by a Federal agency.
       ``(4) A credentialing program meets the requirements in 
     this paragraph if the program is provided by an eligible 
     training provider under section 122 of the Workforce 
     Innovation and Opportunity Act (Public Law 113-128).''.
       (c) Regulations.--Subsection (d)(3) of such section is 
     amended--
       (1) by redesignating subparagraph (D) as subparagraph (E); 
     and
       (2) by inserting after subparagraph (C) the following new 
     subparagraph (D):
       ``(D) With respect to the provision of credentials under 
     this section that are accepted or preferred by employers 
     within an industry or sector, mechanisms to verify that--
       ``(i) such credentials are in fact required or preferred 
     for such employment (or advancement in such employment); and
       ``(ii) the provider of such credentialing programs meet 
     quality assurance criteria as the Secretary concerned, in 
     consultation with the Secretary of Labor, considers 
     appropriate necessary to safeguard the integrity of the 
     credentialing program and provide effective stewardship of 
     Federal resources.''.
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